How To Solve The Sticking Phenomenon in Tablet Production

Adhesive punching refers to the phenomenon where a thin layer or a small part of the surface of a tablet is removed by a punch, resulting in a rough, uneven or dented surface. Here are some methods to solve the problem of sticking and flushing in tablet production:

Improve material factors

Control material humidity

Many materials have a certain degree of moisture absorption, and when the environmental humidity is high or the material itself has too much water content, it is prone to sticking and flushing. For example, materials containing lactose, starch, and other components may adhere to the punch during the compression process if their moisture content exceeds a certain limit. Therefore, for materials that are prone to moisture absorption, their moisture content should be strictly controlled. Generally, drying treatment can be carried out, such as drying at a suitable temperature and time, drying materials in an oven at 50-60 ℃, and controlling the moisture content within a suitable range, such as 1% -3% (specific values vary depending on the material).

In terms of production environment, it is necessary to control the relative humidity in the production workshop. Dehumidification equipment can be installed to maintain the relative humidity in the workshop within the range of 40% -60%, in order to reduce the possibility of material moisture absorption.

Optimize the particle size and distribution of materials

The particle size and distribution of materials also have an impact on viscosity and impact. If the particle size of the material is uneven and there is too much fine powder, it is easy for the fine powder to fill between the punch and the die hole during compression, increasing the risk of sticking and punching. For example, for some Chinese medicine powder tablets, if not properly crushed and screened, the powder particle size may vary greatly, and fine powder may adhere to the surface of the punch.

The response method is to crush and screen the materials to make the particle size distribution more uniform. Usually, multi-stage screening equipment can be used, such as first using a coarse sieve to remove larger particles, and then using a fine sieve (such as an 80-100 mesh sieve) to screen materials with suitable particle size ranges, reducing the proportion of fine powder. At the same time, some flow aids can also be added, such as micro silica gel, which can improve the flowability of materials and prevent fine powder aggregation. The general addition amount is 0.1% -0.5%.

Adjust material formula

Some material components may interact with each other, leading to adhesive flushing. For example, in some compound tablets, chemical reactions or physical adsorption may occur between the drug components and excipients. If the main drug is a viscous extract, mixing it with certain excipients may enhance its viscosity.

At this point, it is possible to consider replacing excipients or adjusting the ratio of the main drug to excipients. For example, replacing starch dextrin with microcrystalline cellulose, because microcrystalline cellulose has good compressibility and flowability, and is not easily prone to sticking. Alternatively, the proportion of hydrophobic excipients can be appropriately increased, such as magnesium stearate, which can form a hydrophobic film on the surface of the particles, reducing the possibility of sticking and impact. The general addition amount is 0.3% -1%.

Hanyoo——One stop solid dosage form manufacturer！